An Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)-affected premises has been identified in the province of Alberta. Please note that the following information is in addition to what the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) already communicates to stakeholders which includes:

Notification to the relevant provincial veterinary service of any newly affected premises

Monthly Federally Reportable Disease updates on the CFIA website (10th of each month), and includes the number of affected premises as well as individual animal cases

Communications with the owners or persons directly involved in the case, as outlined in the current EIA program policy

On Nov. 21, 2018, a positive EIA result was confirmed by the CFIA’s national reference laboratory for a horse on a premises in the County of Athabasca, Alberta. The horse had been sampled by an accredited veterinarian to comply with U.S. import conditions.

No clinical signs of disease were noted at the time of sampling. A CFIA investigation is underway and as per program policy, a quarantine has been placed on the infected animal and its on-premises contact animals. Initial reports indicate there are several equines on the affected premises. The quarantine will remain until all disease response activities have been completed, including follow-up testing and ordering the destruction of positive cases.

Trace-out activities may require the CFIA to undertake actions at additional premises as outlined in the current program policy.